Bucket elevator.



` R. E. ROBINSON.

BUCKET ELEvMo'R.

vAPPLICATION FILED'SEPTJS. 19.12.

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BUCKET ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23. I9I2.

17,289,270. I lamented Nec. 31, 1916.

l 5 SHEETS--SHEET 3.

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JIVLI oo D O O I o A l. coin O/ :I l l Wwf-HQ@ WIP/M @m E. ROBINSON. BUCKET ELEVATOL APPLiCATlON FILED SEPT Patented Dec. 3l, 1915.

H'. E. ROBINSON. BUCKET ELEVATOR.

APPLfcATxoN FILED SEPT. 23\ 1912.

Patented Deo. 31, 1915.

5 SHEETS--SHEET 5- 'suitable mechanism.

drawings in which:

PATE .v i'

RAYMOND E. ROBINSON, OF OAK PARK, ILLNOS.

BCKET ELEVATQR.

Specification of To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, RAYMoNoE. Ro1N- sox. a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Park, in the county ot' Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bucket Eleva tors, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference be ing` hadv to the accompanyingk drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to bucket elevators for use in conveying different materialsgvsuch as coal, sand, stone, etc., trema chute to diierent places as desired. My lnvention 1s of such a nature that the bucket acts as 'a measuring element and is arranged with suitable apparatus which places the bucket in line with the end of a chute, so that the material falls directly into the bucketl after' which it is conveyed to the desired point by At the time that the bucket is placed into a Atilted position. so as to receive the material, a gate which is dis# posed in front of the chute, is automatically opened so that thematerial may fall into the bucket. My invention will be clearly under. stood by referring to the accompanying Figure 1 is an end elevational view of the bucket also showing the guides for the same as well as the tilting mechanism in proxim ity to the chute.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view. taken at one side ot' the bucket and showing-the relation of the, chute. and the tilting mechanism with the bucket shown in" dotted iosition.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a modied tilting arrangen'ient, although the bucket used here, is oi the same construction as the one-shown in the previous figures.

Fig. -lisa cross sectional view showing the rollers on the side ot the bucket in section, and the bucket in a tilted position ready .in conjunction.with my invention.

Fig. 7 illustrates the brake-band employed 0n the drum 01"' the hoisting n'ieehanism.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and it will be noted that there are vertical guides 1 and 2 which aredisposed on each side of abucket members 11;

Letters Patent. Patented nee. ai, rois.

Application filed September 23, 1912. Serial Ne. 721,799.

3. `These guides are arranged t0 be supported at the lower ends by plates 4, which are 'secured to any suitable support. There are two guidesat each side of the bucket whiclnare formed by L shaped members 5, securedat the lower ends of the plates 4., andl forming guiding channels C and 7. These guiding channels are in alineinent with guiding channels 8 and il, formed by l...

shaped members 10 and 11, secured to a framework. which is pivoted on a rod l2 which is'supported by sidemeniliers 13 an" 14. This tilting frame is constructed of standard steel shapes, and is provided with plates .15, which are adapted to engage the rod 12. Secured to these plates are the members 16 and 1i', 1S and 195 the member 19 being fastened to a plate 20, and to which is secured an L shaped member 21,'a part ofwhich is bowed at 22 and is secnredat its lower end to a plate a member v24 being fastened to this plate and also to a plate25 at the lower part 'of the tilting frame. The L shaped members 11 are Secured to this plate and are fastened at their lower ends by means of bolts 2G which pass through a spacing member 27 between the L shaped A similar spacing member 28 is fastened by means of bolts 29, which are countersunk into one of the l. shaped members so as to provide a clear path for the rollers on the bucket. which will be described herein after. The l.. shaped member lO-is fastened at its lower end to the member'17, as

shown. the member 17 also being secured te the plate 23. The L shaped members 10 and l1 are secured to the member 1S, which is fastened to a pitite 30, that is secured to the member 21. The Jframe construction just described is located' at two sides and is connected b v means ot' a gate 31, which is secured to the bowed sections 22. A chute 32 is arranged to direct coal or other material into the bucket after the tilting frame has been brought intoA proper position, this bringingT the bucket into line with the mouth of the chute. The bucket 3 isarranged at its lower end with a rod 33, which is sup ported by suitable members 34 secured te the bucket. The outer ends of this rod carry flanged rollers 35, which are adapted to enlos gage in the channels9 of the tilting trame and the channels 7. Pivoted on each side of the bucket and to the rod 33 are two flat Aairs 3th which at their upper ends are con nected to a cross frame 3l', carrymg a U .the channels 8 and 6.

shaped member' 38, which is arranged to .be engaged byv suitable lifting mechanism to convey the contents of the bucketto any de'- sired point. The bucket also has pivoted at each side thereof rollers 39, which ride in These rollers are lmounted upon rods 40, secured to the bucket.

- At' the upper ends of 4the flat bars 36, there are secured two pins 40a, upon which the rollersv 41 are mounted, these rollers heilig arranged to ride in the channels 9 .and 7.

- The tilting frame has at its upper portion an apron 42', which is frictionally secured upon a rod 43, extending bet- Ween the two side frames. Y

The plate or gate 31, has fastened to its upper end a cable 44, which passes over a shears 45 and which has secured at its other end a. weight 46. lt is to be understood that there is an arrangement such `as this at the other side of the tilting frame.

Assuming that the' bucket is being lowered' from engagement with the channels 6 and 7, it will pass from these channels and into engagement with the channels 8 and 9. As the bucket is being lowered into the tilting frame, this frame will swing about the pivot rod 12 until the weights 46 have reachedthe stops 47, the weight of the bucket being bridge from the chute to the bucket.

brought into play to turn the tilting frame from the dotted position to that shown by lull lines and against the stop 49', and consequently the bucket from its tilted position to a` 'vertical position, as shown by the dotted lines 50, thus bringing the channels 8 and 9 into ,alinement with the channels 6 and 7, so that thevhoisting mechanism can raise shown in full lines.

by the members 51, secured to each side of the bucket and which engage the apron the-` bucket and convey it to any desiredl point when it may be emptied'by any suitable mechanism.

As the tilting frame is being turned about its pivohthe gate 3i serves to close the mouth olithe chute, and it is retained in this closed position owing to the weights 46, which are lowered from the stops 47, when the' gate is brought into this closed position. As the bucket is raised. the apron 42, is turned about the rod 43 into the position as This result is secured when. the bucketlis raised.

The arrangement ust described makes it very easy yto load or fill a. bucket from a chute, inasmuch as it dispenses with any intermediate mechanism' which has heretofore been employed to' ll an elevator bucket from a chute. The arrangement is lvery simple and is not veryliable to get out oi order, consequentlyeihe maintenance expense is reduced to a minimum. This particular apparatus findsgreat utility in the handling .of coal, sand, etc. In the modified arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4, th(` bucket there employed is of the same construction as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. The particular arrangement for tilting the bucket is of a construction such that the bucket is held in a certain position when it is lled, after which it is slightly lowered when it rights itself, so that it may be raised and conveyed to any desired point. To this end I have disposed the channels 5'2 and 53, which are formed by the L shaped members 54 and 55, which may be suitably supported by any desired means.V The lower ends of the L shaped members 55 have secured -thereto a spacing member 56. The lower ends of the L shaped members 54 are secured to a plate 57, `which supports rounded L shaped members 59, and also the L shaped members 59, which are slightly bowed, and which. are secured at one end to a plate 60, The inclined L shaped members 61 are se'cured to this plate and are fastened to a plate 62. This arrangement provides a construction such that the L shaped members 59 'are concentric with the rollers 39, when in their lowermost positions, and bearing against the spacing members 56. There is a wide slot 63, between the L shaped members 59. The L shaped members 58 are cut away to conform to the shape of this slot,as is also the plate 57. The plate 62 carries a rod 64, which has secured thereto an arm 65, on which an adjustable weight 65 is mounted. The rod 64 has secured thereto a tongue or switch 66, which is arranged so'that it may direct the roller 35 into the channel formed by the L shaped members 61. To the left of these members, and secured to plates 60 and 67 there is arranged a slotted member 68 which is adapted to guide a rod 69, this 'rod extending between this member and one which is similar to it, but on the opposite side of the bucket, A rod 70 is adapted to ride in the slot 63, and when the bucket is being tilted, l

it is drawn from the right to the left end of the slot as shown. The rod 69 has secured to it as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, two cables 71, which engagesheaves 72 and also sheaves '73, and are .secured to the gate 74, which is adapted to normally close the 'mouth of the chute 76. The gate has secured to the top thereof cables 77, Which pass over sheaves 78 and 79 and extend downward and are fastened to the rod 70.

'loo

As the bucket is lowered, the rollers 35, engage the switches (t6, so that these rollers ride in the inclined channels` until these rollers get to the position as shown in full lines, which is the fillingposition. As the'bueket is heilig Ilowered it also engages therod (it), which isnorinall)v at the, top of the slots in the members (38. The rollers 3f) and 41 are in the positions as shown in full lines; that is to say they hold the bucket in a locked or t-ilted position. After' the bucket has en! gaged the i'od tfl and has been lowered into itsl tilted position` as Shown by the dotted lines, the gate 7l will he lowered into the position shown, so that thev material may pass from the chute into the bucket.. An apron 7l tightly hinged at VTs'itoy gate is adapted to be thrown by the ,material to bridge the opening between 'the gateand the, bucket'. After the bucket. has been almost filled. it is lowered slightly by inean's of the hoisting mechanism or other means., so that the rrollers 3S) occupy the positions-'as shown bodv vot' the bucket swin sont ot "eneaeenient with the rod till and the rollers serre to push the rod 7() downward through the slots tlland into the recesses 79. The bucket is rotated about the point that the rollers :lil occupy, when they are against. the ,spacingr members :36. andas the bucket assumes an erect. position, the gate 74 4is gradnallyv closed owing'to the engagement of the rollers 555 with the rod 70, which is pushed to the right hand vends of the slots (Eil and -into the recesses 70. rlhe bucketassumes an erect position owing to the fweight ofther material therein, and a'fte'r it'isin such position, the rollers 35 are inalineinent with the L shaped members 5l, so that lthe bucket ma)v be raised by the hoisting mechanism. As it is raised` the rollers pass b v the .switches (3G. that is to say, `the. switches swing about their pivots 64, after which these switches will resun'ie the posi tion as shown i-n full lines. owing to the weight, tio associated therewith. The vgate 74 has sliding engagement with the chutel T6 b v means ot' the L shaped members on each side, of the chutevwhich engage retaining iuemhcrs Sl on the gate. ln tact any ar rangement may be here used which will'et'- l'cctireli' keep the gate in'sliding engagement with the mouth of the chute. As the bucket is being raised` the apron 'Tt' is brought into an upright position by the engagement therewith o't' the members 51 on the bucket.

This arrangement then provides niechanism b) which the bucket is held in a locked position while it is being filled, after'which it isisliglitly lowered when it assumes an verect position, so that it may be' raised and conreyed to any desired point. ylVhen the Referring to Figs. 5, 6, and 7,1 shall de- 75N scribeithe mechanisnifor hoisting and low- `ering the buckets. also ,the arrangement whereby two buckets are employed iii coniiectioii with the hoisting mechanism.

Fig. 5 shows moreor less diagrainniati- 80 call' the. guideways 82 rand 88 t'or one hucret and the guidei'ays 8l and 85 for the other bucket.` These guideways are of the saine construction as those described in con-l nection with the Figs. Il and 4. The buck 85 ets also are of the saine construction, that is to say., there are three rollers on each side engaging guideways on each side and the buckets are arranged to be tilted at the lower endsoi" the guidewa'ijs in order that .'90 they may be filled, and as one ot' said buckets is being held in such filling position, the other bucket is in a position at the top ot' its guideways. so that approximately two thirds of its load is emptied therefrom` that is to say, when the bucket Sti is being filled or when it is held in its locking position such as described in connection with Fig. l. the bucket HT isin a position as shown in dotted lines. so thaty about two thirds of its lload is dumped out. When the bucket Sti kis still lowered so that it may assume a vertical position, the bucket 8T of course is raised a certain distance` so 'that the remaining one third ot' the load will be 105 emptied"`ont.r4 i

A cable 8S is attached tothcgbucket Htand passes over sheaves Hf) and 1N). and over a sheai'e tllf, and around a drinn 92.- and also around a sheare 93 and around another 110 sheare ttl. the other cnd of' the cable being attached to the bucket Si', so that the raising ot' one ot' the buckets causes the lowering of' -the other bucket. The sheaves lll and tl are action is as follows:

Assuming that the bucket Slt is in its locked position, and it has been filled with inateriahthe weightthereot' will serve. to rotate the bar tti) about its pivot slight-'ly` thus lengtheniirg that part ot the. cable so that rthe bucket is lowered into a position such that it may swing into-'an erect posi 130 .is being emptied to the' extent of twot-hirds tion so that it may be raised. While the bucket S6 is being filled, the rollers on the bucket 87, which engage the guiueways v84 are engagingv the curvedportions 101,v as shown in dotted lines, so that the charge in the bucket which has been previously 'filled of its contents. When the bucket 86 has -becnI filledand is lowered slightly more owing to the arrangement in connection with the cable, the bucket 87 is lifted slightly more so that the remaining onethird of its charge is emptied therefrom. The same operation takes place when the bucket 87- is beingtilled. t

'lhedrum 92 of the hoisting mechanism' is mounted rigidly on a shaft v1 02, which is carried in bearings 103. Loosely mounted upon this shaft are gears 104 and 105 having'A clutch members 106 and 107, which are adapted to be engagedby the clutch mombers 108 and 109. The gear 104; meshes with a gear 110, secured to ashaft 111, and which carries another gear 112, which meshes with an i'dlerll', which turn meshes with a gear 105. `Thesiiaft.1 11isreonnected to a suitable ,source of power, so that thebuckets two adjustable arms 120 and`12' 1, `moiinted upon a rod 122, carried 1n bearings 123and piioted at one end to the'rod 124, which 1 n may be raised and lowered as` required. At the other end of the shaft 102 is secured a. gear 114, meshingrl with a gear 115, carried upon a shaft 116, which lis mounted in bearings 117. This shaft is threadedthe greater part otl its length. which threads are en-4 gaged by a weighted memberlllS, having an arm 110, extending outward in the pathof turn is pivoted at 125, and having its other f that when either one of the buckets is being: raised or lowered, the drufm 92 may be` end bit'urcated and engaging the slot 120, 'lhe rod 124 has secured thereto a pinv127,

which is adaptedito engage a projectio'n128y on a bar 120` which is pivoted at 130, and is 'secured at the other end to a brakebaxid 1251, which passes aroundian,extensionfrom the di'imi 02. `The clutch meinbers'108 land 10!) are splined zit/'132 to the shaft 102, so

placed in operative relation with the source of power. For example,`when the bucket 87 hasbeen filled, it is raised by throwing the clutch member-10S into relation withthe clutch member 106, so thatthe drum 92 is rotated in'the direction indicated by the arrow,',and the sliaft`110 rotates soA that, the .drinn 119' is brought into lengagement. with v vthe adjustable finger '120, when the drum is `stopped 'by the. clutch members 106 and 108 being); thrown out of'engagement andhaving the pin' engage theprojection -128 on the rod 129, so as to set thebrake band tightly against the extension from the drum. l`The' rod 122,-'is manuallyo erated by means of je lever-133, which is pivoted et 134, and to by said bucket. t A 2. In a bucket elevator, thegconibina'tion' of a bucket adapted to receive 'materiah .a

which is pivoted -a iink 135, that is pt voed at 136 (tothe bar 122. The lever 133vis operated to lbring` either of the clutch 'members 108 kor 109Yinto lo erative relation with the*- companionfgcliitc member. When the bucket'SZgis-bei'ng raised, the pin 127 is away fromgtliexpoint .128, softhat the brake is re leased toj peri'nitv the rotation of the drum. The drinn v,may becaused to operate in the 'opposite?*direction` by actuating I the lever 133, thus causing. thev o lutch'mem-bers 107' and 109it'o come into engagement and theV4 drinn willycontinue to rotate `until the arm bar 122, s olasftobring the clutch lmembers 107 and. 1093out'fof engagement and at the same. tiinefset ther-brake.

' 119 engagesfwith the finger 121, to move the4 f It is` to be`l` understood, of course, that the scopeof my iiivention.y

" Whatlc'laim is:

f, 1, V,Ingaf bucket elevator, the' 'combination of-"a` bucket adaptedto receive material, a chute, ,ro1lers1o'n both sides'of said'bucket, two guideways on each vside of said bucket `for receiving said rollers, a Ufshaped member pivoted to said bucket, rollersfcarried on ssv 9o j tails disclosed, as-it 'is apparent to those "skilled kin the art, that modications may lbe ngi de without departing from the spirit 'and ioo the upper portion of said member and adapt#r` ed to engage in said -gu-ideways, the lowermost rollerson said bucket being adapted to engage in the inclined. portions of said guideways to tiltsaid bucket vinfront-'ofv the chute, and a gate for the chutefoontrolled Y chiite, rollers onboth sides of 'said buoke two guideways on each side of vsaid bucket y ber pivoted to said bucket, rollers carried on t i e upper portion of said member andv .adapted to engage in one of the guideviaysf oneach side, the lower portions of 'saidl for receiving said rolleiS,a U-shaped mem.-v

guideways being inclined .and adapted to receive the lowermost rollers. on `said bucketto tilt the bucket in proximity `to the mouthof the chute, and raising'and lowering mechanism vconnected with said bucket.

3. I n a bucket elevator, the combination of g va bucket adapted to receive material, a chute, "rollers, on both Sides of said bucket, two guidewaysoneachfside of said bucket' for receiving said rollers, a U-shaped member pivoted tosaidbiicketfrollers ,carried .on the yupper portion` ofsaidf-member and adapted f to engage yin one oftheguideways oneach 130 lesser/o side, the lower portions of said guideways .presenting a. triangular path on cach side ber pirotcd to said bucket, rollers carried on the upper portion oi said member and i adapted to engage in one oi' the guideways on each side, the lower portions' of said. guideways being of triangular shape thus offerings path on each vside of the bucket oi a triangular conformation in which the lowerniost rollers on the bucket are adapted to engage, suoli engagement resulting; first to tilt the bucket to receive a charge from the chute, and then to cause it to assume an erect position so that it may be raised, hoisting means connected with said bucket, and a. grate for the chute controlled. by said bucket.

5. In a bucket elevator, the combination of a bucket adapted to receive material, a chute, rollers on both sides of said bucket, two

guideways on each side oi said bucket for A receiving said rollers, a. U-shaped member' pivoted to said bucket, rollers carried on the upper portion oi said member and adapted to engage in one of the guideways on each side, the lower ends of said `iruicleways beingr of a triangular shape, said ends being,r adapted to guide the lowermost rollers on the bucket, so that said bucket will be tilted in iront of the chute to receive a charge and then to be rotated into a vertical position', hoisting mechanism, and -a gate controlled by said bucket.

C. In a bucket elevator, the combination oi a bucket adapted to receive material, a

chute, rollers von both sides of said bucket, two guideways on each side ot said bucket tor receiving said rollers, a U-shapcd. meinber pivoted to said bucket, rollers carried on the upper portion of adapted to engage in one of the guideways on each side, the lower ends of said guide:v

ways being of a triangular shape,A said' ends member and being adapted to guide the lowermost'rollers on the bucket so that saidbucket will be tilted in front of the chute to receive a] charge and then to be rotated into a vertical position, mechanism for holding said bucket in such tilted position until it receives its'` charge, the weicht of the lcharge causing the bucket to be owered slightly when said 'I bucket is rotated to a vertical positionfready to be raised.

7. ln e bucket elevator, the comvbi'nzitimi .IA of a bucket. adapted to receive material, .a

rollers on both sides of' said bucket, two guideways on each sidelof vsaid bucket for receiving said rollers, a lifting frame pivoted to said bucket, rollers carried on chute,

'each side of the upper portion of. said meinber and adapted to engage insaid guideways, the lower ends of said guideways liaving a triangular shape, said ends'being;

ndapted'to oi'ler a path for the lowermostv rollers on the bucket so that said ,bucketr will be tilted in 'front of the chute to receive its load, means for holding said bucket-inA such tilted position until it receives its load,

the weight of the load serving to.-'s`lightly lower the bucket when it assumes a verticall position ready to be raised, and a gate vcon-f'.

trolled by said bucket.

8. In a bucket elevator the combination of a guide frame` a bucket movabljvv mounted in said frame, a downwardly inclined chute, said frame beingprovided adjacent the chute with a triangular bucket guidingway,

devices carried near the bottom or the bucket*` adapted to take the path of the triangular wav to move the bottom of the bucket out of vertical alinement with the top thereof to tilt the bucket in front of the chute.

ln witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed iny naine this 21st day of September, A. D. 1912.

nAYMoND E. ROBINSON.

Witnesses t ALBERT C. BELL, Luoivann E. Bosnia.

sis' 

